Abstract
BackgroundMental health is often given low priority in health policy planning, particularly in developing countries. Several international health bodies, including the World Health Organization, recommend integrating mental health into primary care settings to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with mental illness, particularly in low-resource settings.ObjectiveThis study explores health care workers' and policy stakeholders’ knowledge and attitudes regarding mental illness, interactions with patients in the community, and perceived training needs at a health clinic in rural southeastern Senegal. Interviews were conducted with eight key informant medical staff members and community health workers.MethodsInterview data were analyzed and interpreted using a qualitative content analysis based on the grounded theory approach.ResultsThe findings indicate that staff members encounter many patients with emotional/psychological problems or mental illnesses, and they employ various strategies in treating these patients. Respondents also highlighted the need for more training to address and diagnose mental health problems, especially severe psychiatric illnesses.ConclusionsFindings are used to discuss recommendations for developing a comprehensive mental health primary care treatment approach that includes screening patients for mental health problems screening, incorporating rural villagers' attitudes and beliefs about mental illness into treatment, and utilizing community health workers—who are often a first health contact for many—to work with the medical staff to identify mental health problems.
Highlights
Mental health is often given low priority in health policy planning, in developing countries
The findings indicate that staff members encounter many patients with emotional/psychological problems or mental illnesses, and they employ various strategies in treating these patients
Respondents highlighted the need for more training to address and diagnose mental health problems, especially severe psychiatric illnesses
Summary
Mental health is often given low priority in health policy planning, in developing countries. Several international health bodies, including the World Health Organization, recommend integrating mental health into primary care settings to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with mental illness, in low-resource settings. The report focused on the primary areas of training, awareness and sensitization, and service delivery It recommended integrating mental health into primary care settings to facilitate early, comprehensive, and local treatment for mental disorders [5]. Key strategies to improve mental health care in countries include the following: providing treatment for psychiatric disorders in primary health care settings; increasing patient access to psychotropic medication; educating the public and raising awareness; including families and communities in treatment; establishing national policies and legislation; developing human resources; building relationships with multiple sectors and stakeholders; monitoring community mental health; and supporting research [5,6]
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